Nottingham Forest return to Sky Bet Championship action tomorrow when Aston Villa are the visitors to The City Ground for Aitor Karanka's first game in charge.

The Spaniard was appointed as the club's new manager earlier this week and he will be in the dugout for the first time against The Villans.

A fantastic performance last time out saw The Reds defeat Emirates FA Cup holders Arsenal 4-2 to earn their place in the fourth round of the competition, and Karanka will be hoping his side can show the same level of performance against Villa.

Steve Bruce's side are in and around the promotion picture after a stuttering start to the campaign, but their strong recent form sees them sitting in fifth place heading into this weekend's fixtures.

Team news

Joe Worrall will miss the game tomorrow as he serves a one-match ban for his red card against Arsenal last weekend. Matt Mills is expected to come into the side as his replacement.

Liam Bridcutt and Daryl Murphy both missed the cup win against The Gunners through injury but and will be hoping to return to action on Saturday.

From the opposition

Steve Bruce said that there is plenty to play for as his side look to bounce back from last weekend's Emirates FA Cup defeat against Peterborough.

He said: "There is no disputing that we're very disappointed with what happened last week. But in hindsight, the four or five young players we played alongside the three or four players who had been out for a very long time made it hard work for us.

"However, I do think it was invaluable for the young players and also the players who had been out for two or three months, to get some sort of football in them.

"We're disappointed with the cup tie, but we're going to be judged on what we do in the league and rightly so. Another big game again tomorrow and we're now into the beginning of the end of the January.

"With less than 20 games to play after tomorrow - it's all to play for."

One to watch - Albert Adomah

Aston Villa's top scorer with 12 goals in all competitions this season, Albert Adomah is one to keep an eye on tomorrow.

The winger is enjoying his best goalscoring campaign, including finding the net against The Reds in the reverse fixture earlier this season, and Steve Bruce will be hoping his main man is on song on Saturday.

Last visit

Tickets

Tickets for Saturday's game are available from as little as £15 for adults, £11 for seniors and £1 for Under 16s, representing excellent value to watch Aitor Karanka's first game in charge.

Forest 0-1 Aston Villa

Aitor Karanka’s first game as Nottingham Forest manager ended in defeat as Scott Hogan’s goal earned Aston Villa a 1-0 win at The City Ground.

The striker hit the back of the net in the first half and that goal proved decisive as Forest were unable to claw their way back into the game.

The new Reds boss was forced into one change from the side which dispatched Arsenal in the Emirates FA Cup last weekend, with Matt Mills coming in for the suspended Joe Worrall.

Matty Cash had the game's first real effort on goal on 14 minutes, with a fast-paced move forward seeing Kieran Dowell find the midfield man on the edge of the box. Cash cut inside onto his left foot but his shot was straight at Sam Johnstone in the Villa goal.

But on 18 the visitors went in front through Hogan. Robert Snodgrass delivered a wicked ball from the right-hand side and Hogan got in front of Michael Mancienne and Jordan Smith to flick a header into the net.

It was almost two for Villa on 24 as another superb delivery by Snodgrass, this time from a free kick, was met by John Terry whose powerful header cannoned back off the crossbar.

Forest dominated the ball and looked the more likely to create an opening, but Villa's stubborn defence kept them at arm's length. The Reds had to wait until first-half stoppage time for a meaningful effort on goal, with Dowell's free kick crashing into the side-netting.

The first effort of the second half also came direct from a free kick, with Snodgrass's effort from a tight angle on target but Smith equal to it to beat the ball clear. Jack Grealish was next to set his sights for Villa, but his 50th-minute curling effort drifting just wide of Smith's left-hand post.

Barrie McKay was introduced from the substitutes' bench just after the hour-mark and he had a good opportunity presented to him on 68. James Chester's loose pass fell straight to the Scotsman's feet and he drove at goal but his shot was tame and easy for Johnstone to save.

On 80 it was McKay who was again involved for Forest, playing a long-distance one-two with Ben Brereton before seeing his shot saved at the near post.

The City Ground crowd roared behind their side and Dowell's swerving effort from 30 yards almost caught out goalkeeper Johnstone on 86, with the stopper palming it around the post.

Albert Adomah had the ball in the Forest net only to see the flag raised for offside and The Reds couldn't quite find the bit of quality needed in the final third to get their way back into the game as Aitor Karanka's rein began in defeat.